By the time poor Sir Franks had read himself into tranquillity, Mrs. Shorne, who knew him well, and was determined that he should not enter upon his usual negociations with an unpleasantness:  that is to say, to forget it, joined them in the library, bringing with her Sir John Loring and Hamilton Jocelyn.  Her first measure was to compel Sir Franks to put down his book.  Lady Jocelyn subsequently had to do the same.

‘Well, what have you done, Franks?’ said Mrs. Shorne.

‘Done?’ answered the poor gentleman.  ’What is there to be done?  I’ve spoken to young Harrington.’

’Spoken to him!  He deserves horsewhipping!  Have you not told him to quit the house instantly?’

Lady Jocelyn came to her husband’s aid:  ’It wouldn’t do, I think, to kick him out.  In the first place, he hasn’t deserved it.’

’Not deserved it, Emily!—­the commonest, low, vile, adventuring tradesman!’

‘In the second place,’ pursued her ladyship, ’it’s not adviseable to do anything that will make Rose enter into the young woman’s sublimities.  It ’s better not to let a lunatic see that you think him stark mad, and the same holds with young women afflicted with the love-mania.  The sound of sense, even if they can’t understand it, flatters them so as to keep them within bounds.  Otherwise you drive them into excesses best avoided.’

‘Really, Emily,’ said Mrs. Shorne, ’you speak almost, one would say, as an advocate of such unions.’

‘You must know perfectly well that I entirely condemn them,’ replied her ladyship, who had once, and once only, delivered her opinion of the nuptials of Mr. and Mrs. Shorne.

In self-defence, and to show the total difference between the cases, Mrs. Shorne interjected:  ‘An utterly penniless young adventurer!’

‘Oh, no; there’s money,’ remarked Sir Franks.

‘Money is there?’ quoth Hamilton, respectfully.

‘And there’s wit,’ added Sir John, ‘if he has half his sister’s talent.’

‘Astonishing woman!’ Hamilton chimed in; adding, with a shrug, ‘But, egad!’

‘Well, we don’t want him to resemble his sister,’ said Lady Jocelyn.  ‘I acknowledge she’s amusing.’

‘Amusing, Emily!’ Mrs. Shorne never encountered her sister-in-law’s calmness without indignation.  ’I could not rest in the house with such a person, knowing her what she is.  A vile adventuress, as I firmly believe.  What does she do all day with your mother?  Depend upon it, you will repent her visit in more ways than one.’

‘A prophecy?’ asked Lady Jocelyn, smiling.

On the grounds of common sense, on the grounds of propriety, and consideration of what was due to themselves, all agreed to condemn the notion of Rose casting herself away on Evan.  Lady Jocelyn agreed with Mrs. Shorne; Sir Franks with his brother, and Sir John.  But as to what they were to do, they were divided.  Lady Jocelyn said she should not prevent Rose from writing to Evan, if she had the wish to do so.